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Based on the information currently available, we classify the public health hazard at this landfill
as indeterminate. Additional environmental data is necessary to assess the public health threat to
nearby residents. Conclusions supporting this classification are as follows:

1. Ingestion of contaminated ground water is a past completed human exposure pathway. The
predominate ground-water contaminant associated with this landfill is nitrate. Concentrations of
nitrate greater than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in water used to make formula can cause
methemoglobinemia in infants less than six months old. When the Volusia County Public Health
Unit found >10 mg/L nitrate in a drinking-water well, they advised the owner not to use this
water to prepare infant formula. Since there were no infants in these homes, we do not expect
there were any cases of methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome." There have been no
reports of methemoglobinemia in this area.

2. In 1989, the Volusia CPHU sampled ten nearby private drinking-water wells and analyzed for
gasoline components. They found low levels of 1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride in the
Volusia County Humane Society private drinking-water well. Ground water sampling was
inadequate, however, to fully determine the area of contamination.

3. Most of the approximately 20 nearby private drinking-water wells that had less than 5 mg/L
nitrate in 1987 have not been resampled. Due to the karst (cavernous) geology of the area,
ground water concentrations can change rapidly. The lack of follow-up analysis for nitrate in
these wells is a significant data gap.

4. Giardia is a possible cause of diarrhea experienced by one nearby resident. Laboratories do
not commonly analyze for giardia in drinking-water wells. Giardia, from septic tank waste
disposed of at the landfill, could have traveled to nearby drinking-water wells though the karst
(cavernous) limestone. It could also have infiltrated from contaminated surface water to ground
water along poorly constructed or deteriorated drinking-water wells. Coliform bacteria are also
associated with animal or human waste from residential septic tanks. High levels of sulfate are
another possible cause of diarrhea.

5. Between 1988 and 1990, four off-site monitor wells and one private drinking-water well were
tested for sulfate. Sulfate concentrations in these five wells were below state drinking water
standards. Since we do not know the sulfate concentrations prior to 1988, we cannot assess the
public health threat of sulfate in the ground water prior to 1988. It is likely that the sulfate
concentrations will continue to decline since the landfill stopped accepting the Brunswick
Corporation sulfuric acid waste in 1980. Therefore, we do not recommend additional sampling
for sulfate.

1. Avoid feeding water with greater than 10 mg/L nitrate to infants less than six months old.
Owners of wells with nitrate concentrations greater than 10 mg/L should not use this water to
prepare formula for infants less than six months old.

Site Characterization Recommendations

2. Sample all of the nearby private drinking-water wells and analyze for vinyl chloride. We
recommend the Volusia County Department of Solid Waste Management sample all of the
nearby private drinking-water wells and analyze for vinyl chloride.

3. Resample all these nearby private drinking-water wells and analyze for nitrate. We
recommend the Volusia County Department of Solid Waste Management resample all of the
private drinking-water wells within 0.25 mile of the landfill and analyze for nitrate.

4. Sample nearby wells and analyze for coliform bacteria and giardia. If nearby residents
experience diarrhea again, we recommend the Volusia County Public Health Unit sample their
wells and analyze for coliform bacteria and if funds are available, for giardia.

Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations

The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
(CERCLA), as amended, requires the ATSDR to take necessary public actions at hazardous
waste sites. To determine necessary public health actions, the ATSDR's Health Activities
Recommendation Panel (HARP) evaluated the data and information developed in this
preliminary public health assessment.

The Panel determined that no follow-up health activities are currently needed because there is no
evidence that people have been exposed to contaminants from this landfill at concentrations
likely to affect their health. If information becomes available indicating exposure at levels of
concern, the ATSDR will evaluate that information to decide what actions, if any, are necessary.

This section describes what the ATSDR and/or the Florida HRS will do at the Plymouth Avenue
Landfill after the completion of this public health assessment report. The purpose of a Public
Health Action Plan is to ensure that the appropriate agency or party reduce any existing health
hazards and prevent future health hazards. The ATSDR and/or the Florida HRS will do the
following:

1. If diarrhea recurs in nearby residents, the Volusia County Public Health Unit will sample their
private drinking-water wells and analyze for coliform bacteria. If funds are available, they will
also analyze for giardia.

The ATSDR and/or the Florida HRS will reevaluate the Public Health Action Plan when new environmental, toxicological, or health outcome data are available.

This Plymouth Avenue Landfill Public Health Assessment was prepared by the Florida
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services under a cooperative agreement with the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved
methodology and procedures existing at the time the public health assessment was begun.

Russell 1978. Russell Laboratories, "Report on Spent Acid Disposal by Brunswick
Corporation," Submitted to Volusia County Department of Public Works, Volusia County
Environmental Control Office and the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.